Comb



sept. 4, 1951 H. F. SHAW 2,566,965

2 Sheets-Shee4 l Filed Aug. 1o, 1946 sept. 4, 1951 H. F. SHAW 2,566,965

COMB

Filed Aug. 10, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,1:1- /26 e 6 v *195 VT Mmmm 328je/326 f G26 i ,f

` l l l' i, WH" 'HILU'M F' .12. F .13 F19ll .19426 26 nj I.' 448 b445 2045o 20 428 I 488 Ego Eea lla I HUGH/E021 Iaro/dlsuzw Patented Sept. 4,1.951

Y .Y QCM;.

Harold F. Shaw, Leominster, Mass. Y Application August l0,1948,'SierialhNo.7689,7742V 1 3 claims. 1

i This invention relates to combs 'of the type used by women for holdingthe hair in place after the coiffure is suitably arranged. The'objectisto provide a hair positioning or retaining device of this nature havingteeth which, after they have been inserted in the hair, may be broughtcloser together more firmly to grip the hair and which will be locked inthis position, the comb then becoming a part of the hair arrangement,either inconspicuous or conspicuous and ornamental as the case may be.The combfwill then not fall out or easily become displaced and thecoiffure will not become disarranged.

My invention will be well understood by ref--V erence to the followingdescription taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Ihave shown various constructions illustrative of .the invention andwherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan of a comb with its parts in the position which theyoccupy when in use in the hair;

' Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in the open position whichthey will occupy prior to the insertion of the teeth in the hair;

Fig. E3 is a rear view of Fig. 2, the teeth being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view of the upper portion of a comb of modifiedconstruction, the parts being in the open position;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a diierent modification; theteeth of the comb are also of a different form;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7;' Fig..9.is a viewsimilar to Figs. 5 and 7 showing a different modiiication;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of the central portion of Fig. 9 showingthe parts in positions into which they move when the comb is closed orlocked;

Fig. 11 is a view of the upper portion of another modiiied form of combin thelopen position and viewed from the rear;

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary section on the' line i2-l2 of Fig. 1l; and 1Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig.

12 showing the parts in the closed or locked posi-v tion.

Usually combs of the kind shown v.are curved in a plane perpendicular tothe paper in the drawing, but I have not attempted to illustrate thiswith accuracy in the drawing as it would complicate the drawing and notcontribute to an Yunderstanding of the invention. In the followingdescription I shall speak offthe devices illustrated as if flat in theplane of the paper.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the comb there shown comprisesa unitary body corresponding in general in its form to a complete combof the conventional kind and whichl may conveniently be molded fromsuitable plastic mai-....1 ...ma s nvmvviin and comprises a back.

20ffrorn which projects a row of teeth 22. Hereinithe teeth 22 are shownwith projections 24 staggered in adjacent teeth, these illustrating byway-of vexample teeth having a formation intended to resist theirwithdrawal from the hair, a function which they more efficiently performin a construction embodying the present invention, as will hereafterappear. The back 20 is` resiliently `flexible and may be flexed in theplane of the paper and normally when not constrained would'occupy such aposition as seen in Figs. 2 and 3 wherein it extends substantiallystraight.

` In'the modification of Figs. 1 to 4, a bar 2B is associated with theback 20 of the comb, herein being mounted'thereon a central pivot 28. Itmay be made of like plastic material and in the example shown is ofsimple form and appears, when the comb is in the position of use shownin Fig. 1, much like an ordinary back portion of the usual unornamentedside comb or the like. While this bar 2B may iiex somewhat in practice,itis relatively heavy and it will be convenient here to consider it asrigid in the plane of the paper although it may be resiliently ilexibletransversely to that plane. rHerein the .bar vhas a generally curvedform and has overhanging shoulders 30 (see Figs. 3 and 4) preferablywith recurvedhooklike ends as seen -in the latter figure which areoffset downwardlyfrom the pivot 28 and adapted in the closed position ofFig. 1 to engage the end portions of the back 20 which maybe providedwith suitable seats 32 to receive the same. The pivot 2B and the'pointsof engagement of the shoulders 3l!V lie on a curve of greater curvaturethan the back 20 when the lever is in the position shown in Fig. 1. Thecomb with the parts in the position in Fig. 2 is inserted in the hair.Theback 20 and the bar 26 remain exposed at theoutside of the hair. Thefingers may then swing the bar 2B counterclockwise, viewing Fig. 2,andthe shoulderllat the left will come to rest onVV seat '32 while thatat the right is snapped over the seat 32 at the right-hand end of theback 20. By this action the back of the comb is fixed torcer-respondwith the curve of the three engaging points and therefore the teeth 22are thrown into their converging positions, illustrated in Fig. 1,locking them to the hair. Thus if wev assume the back 20 to be perfectlyhorizontal in Fig. 2, the teeth 22 might be considered as perpendicularthereto and parallel. Then if the back is bent to the arc of a circle,the teeth assume the position of radii converging toward the center.This may be considered a schematic description of.

the principle of action.

When it is desired to withdraw the comb, one end of the bar 26 may bestressed slightly to be sprung aside to disengage its shoulder 30 fromseat 32 and permit the bar to swing to the position of Figs. 2 and 3.The body of the comb then springs backto its normal unstrained positionor Fig. 2. If the back 20 of the comb is normally substantiallystraight. it is flexed in use to a.

back might be concaved upwardly, and this curva#A ture would then beflattened.

If we consider the parts in the open position i of Fig. 2, it will beplain that the. distance. be;- v.

tween the two terminal engaging seats 32.. of they back 20 issubstantially the same as the distance between the shoulders 3U measuredalong thej baron the curve through the pivot 28. The distance betweenthe shoulders 30 on the bar 26, measured in. a straight line, is less,the chord being shorter than the arc. When the device is closed totheposition of Fig. 1, the seats 32 on the back are pressed nearer togetherto correspond to the straight line spacing of the shoulders 30 withresultant flexure of the back 20, causing the ends of the teeth to movecloser together.

The description of the principle of action which has just been given isparticularly useful in considering the construction of Fig. 5. Hereinthe bar |26 is associated with the back 20 by being pivoted thereto atone end only and at the other end it isv recurved to form a hook |30which embracesY the right-hand end of the back when closed, coming torest against a shoulder 13,2. The .parts are so proportioned that thehook can be Vengaged, only if the back 20 is sprung or flexed toincrease its curvature andV throw the teeth to morel convergingpositions.

bar 326. If the lever is swung counterclockwise from the position` ofFig. a9, the central .portion of the back r20 Will be drawnr up into theconcave of the bar 326, being bent to the form of the arc,

1 'and the teeth will be caused to converge.

The link 340 is desirably somewhat longer than the distance between thepoints 338 and 344 and may move slightly beyond center to the positionvshown in Fig. 1,0 and will be self-maintaining in vthat position. Themechanism isone form of teggle joint. In this instance the meremanipulation of the lever in itself tends to move the teeth to thedesired convergent positions. and holds them' there until released by asuitable reversemanipulation. y

In Fig. 9,. I have indicated by dotted lines 348r the outline of anornamental pinece which might be mounted on the, bar 323 and which'would efv` fectually 'conceal the operating mechanism when the comblwas Worn.

In the modification shown in Fig. 11, a bar 423 f ofv arc-shaped formv'and of generally channel'-v In the modification of Figs. 'l and f8, thebar n 22j@ is associated with the back by being pivoted thereto.centrally at the point r228` and at the left at point. 22-9 while theright-,hand free en d carries ahook-like latch 230'which is adapted to vbe engaged, over the upper edge of the back 2,0

of ,the comb. at itsrrightfhand end. The points defined by the twopivots 228 and 229 andthe latch 23D, dene a curve more abrupt thanv thenormal` curvature of the back 20, and when the latch isv engaged theback is ex'ed to throw the teeth into more convergent positions. Y

In this construction the right-hand Y end of the comb back and of thebar226 may be pressed apart corresponding to a swinging movement of thebarclockwise. part of the back between the points 2,284 and 229 flexing toaccommodate it to such movement, to spread the ends of the teeth beforethey are inserted in the hair. They will resil-iently regain theirnormal position when the bar is released and when the bar is latchedwill move beyond the same to more convergent positions as in the otherconstructions.-

In Fig. '7 and likewise in Figs..9 and 11 the teeth 222 are differentlfrom the teeth illustrated in l, '2, '3 and 5, being substantially oftheijorm Shown in the patent to Sawyer No. 1,684,362, the teeth havingelongated openings throughout the major portion of their length deningresiliently bowed sides which in a construction as described will bepressed together and mutually compress one another when the comb isbrought to the closed position.

Referring to Fig. 9, kthe comb body, whichis generally like thosepreviously described, carries on its back a curved bar 323 connected tothe back 2D adiacent the ends of the latter by pivot pins 32B, the bar326 and the back- 20 being related one to another in substantially themanner of an arc and its chord. A finger lever 336 is associated Y ,Y inFigs, 12 and 13, is as,- sociated with the back 20 of the comb by beingkseshaped section, as seen cured to the ends of the back 20 at points423. I n

the open position of Figs. ll. and 12, the back 29 is related to the bar742,6 in thev manner of a chord to its arc. The central portion of thebar 2,0, may be drawnl up into the channel and flexed to the curvaturethereof to cause the teeth of the comb to converge.l To retain it, alocking member 448 is providedV the 'upper end Qf which is hinged tothe, back bar at the central portion of the latter, andr which has alioQk-slfiapedv lower end 453 which may be swung in under the lower edgeof the back 29 to the position shown in Fig. 13, the resiliency oftheiiexed backY holding the latch engaged.k As in the othei1 cases, theteeth of the comb are pressed in the hair with the parts in the positionof Figs, 1l and l2. The back is thenY flexed and locked'1l-ihat,position by the engagement of the hook 459 with the lower edge of theback.

I have, referred to lthe part 26, |26, andl so on, as a bar, but vvitobviously might take various forms, Ornamental. if. desired 0r. 0f aConsiderable area, provided engaging parts are present properly relatedto perform the functions described. Ornamental extensions could beformed separately and mounted on such a bar, as above sug-` gested inconnection with Fig. 9, and wide varieties of ornamental forms could beprovidedv by assembling' dierent tops with, a Simple bar. of the type,for instance, that 'shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3, which then would not onlyserve as a latch for securing' the teeth in their locked or convergentposition but provide a support for the ornamental projecting portion ofthe comb. Thus back combs frequently have extended` projecting portionsof an ornamental character andV their weight and 'size permit them to berelatively easily displaced. When constructed in accordance with theinvention they are rmly secured in position until it is desiredvoluntarily to withdraw them.

In a back comb such as has just been referred to, the ornamentalfunction is perhaps more important than the hair-retaining function. Itis in, effect a head ornament mounted to the hair by means `of combteeth. Similarly a bow of ribbon, a flower or the like may be mounted ona comb body to be used as an ornament. 'The constructions here describedare most effective forV such uses and reference to them ashair-retaining devices is not to be understood as excluding theiradaptation to such purposes.

am aware thatthe. inventgn. may be @mf bodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive, as is in fact clear in severalmatters from the description itself. Reference is to be had to theappended claims to indicate those principles of the inventionexemplified by the particular embodiment described and which I desire tosecure by Letters Patent.

I claim:

1. A comb comprising a back and teeth formed as an integral unit ofresilient material and a manipulable locking device associated with theback to be accessible for manipulation when the teeth have entered thehair and operating on portions of the unit to alter their relativeposition with resultant resilient deformation of the unit when broughtto locked position serving to hold the unit in such deformed positionwith the points of the teeth more closely approximated than when theunit is in its normal unstressed state.

2. A comb of the class described comprising a flexible back havingprojecting teeth. a bar cooperating with the back to engage the same atthree spaced points along the fbar, the engagement being releasable atat least one of said points, the points defining a curve of greatercurvature than the normal contour of the back, whereby when engagementis effected at all the points the teeth are forced into and secured in acoverging position.

3. A comb of the class described comprising a flexibley back havingprojecting teeth, a bar pivoted to the back between the ends thereof andhaving adjacent its ends catches for releasably engaging the combadjacent its ends, the said catches and pivot defining a curve ofgreater curvature than the normal contour of the back, whereby whenengagement is effected at all the points the teeth are forced into andsecured in a converging position.

`4. A comb of the class described comprising a flexible back havingprojecting teeth, a bar pivotally connected to the back at pointsrespectively between its ends and adjacent one end and having adjacentthe other end a catch for releasably engaging the back, the said catchand points defining a curve of greater curvature than the normal contourof the back, whereby when engagement is effected at all the points theteeth are forced into and secured in a converging position.

5. A comb of the class described comprising a flexible back havingprojecting teeth, a bar pivotally connected to the back adjacent one endthereof and having a catch adjacent its other end for engaging the combadjacent its other end, the distance between the pivot and catch beingless than the normal distance along the unfiexed back between the pivotand the point of engagement of the catch, whereby when the two ends ofthe back are both engaged with the bar the teeth are forced into andsecured in a converging position.

6. A comb of the kind described comprising a flexible yback havingprojecting teeth, a bar associated with the back having `a differentcurvature than the back in the normal form of the latter and means forlocking the back to said bar to bring and maintain the former to flexedposition with the teeth in more converging positions.

'1. A comb of the kind described comprising a bendable back havingprojecting teeth, a bar as- VVVsociated with the back having a differentcurvature than the back in the normal form of the latter and means forbending the back to the curve of the bar and holding it thereto to bringthe teeth to and maintain them in more con- V,verging positions.

" 8. A comb of the kind described comprising a iiexible back havingprojecting teeth, a bar pivoted to the back of the comb having means forengaging the ends of the comb which means are closer together than thenormal spacing of said ends, whereby when the bar is swung on its pivotto engage said means with Iboth ends of the comb the latter is flexedand the teeth forced into and secured in converging positions.

9. A comb of the class described comprising a flexible back having teethprojecting therefrom, a bar having a greater curvature than the backconnected to the ends thereof, and a device carried by one of the partsfor latching the central portion of the back in flexed position to thecentral portion of the bar with the teeth forced into and secured inconverging positions.

10. A comb of the class described comprising a flexible back havingteeth projecting therefrom, a bar having a greater curvature than theback connected to the ends thereof, and a device carried by one of theparts for drawing and latching the central portion of the back into theconcave defined by the lbar with the teeth forced into and secured inconverging positions.

11. A comb of the class described comprising a flexible back havingteeth projecting therefrom, a bar having a greater curvature than theback connected to the ends thereof, and a lever device mounted betweenthe central portions of the bar and back for drawing the same togethersaid device moving to a self-maintaining position when they are so drawntogether with the teeth forced into and secured in converging positions.

12. A comb of the class described comprising a flexible back havingteeth projecting therefrom, a bar movably mounted on the back of acurvature different from the back and having provision for releasablyengaging the back to hold the same flexed to a curvature at least morenearly approximating that of the bar with the ends of the teeth closertogether than when the back is in its normal unstressed position.

13. A comb of the kind described comprising a unitary flexible backhaving integral teeth projecting therefrom and a device associated withthe back manipulable into engagement with a portion of the back forlocking the back in a flexed form of increased curvature with the teethforced into Ypositions of increased convergence.

HAROLD F. SHAW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Y file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,573 Huppert Dec..5, 1944621,705 Rasnick Mar. 21, 1899 842,524 Cartwright Jan. 29, 1907 931,841Bridges Aug. 24, 1909 1,684,362 Sawyer Sept. 11, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 11,026 Great Britain May 21, 1908 96,573 Germany-Mar. 16, 1898

